Passengers could be banned from causing a “nuisance” by playing loud music on public transport under proposals to change the law set out by the Tories.
The Conservatives said there should be “swift justice for those who make people’s lives a misery” by playing music loudly on buses and trains, and that they would introduce on-the-spot fines to tackle this.
Politics latest: Ministers announce new measures to clear asylum backlog
Under the plans, byelaws that already protect passengers on trains would be more rigorously enforced, while the equivalent would be brought in for those on buses – where currently there is no ban on music being played out loud.
Currently, rules around train travel already make playing music out loud an offence – but like other issues, such as fare evasion, this is subject to being enforced by the British Transport Police or the train operators themselves.
Under the proposals, when the government brings its Railways Bill to the Commons, the Tories will add an amendment to ensure that all train operators and nationalised services have a legal duty to enforce these, and have to publicly publish measurements of how well this is happening. As well as this, the amendment would introduce on-the-spot fines.
The Conservatives say they would also introduce the same rules to buses through the government’s Buses Bill, and that this will be a condition for all new bus partnerships, franchises and terms of service.
Richard Holden, the shadow transport secretary, said: “Taking public transport shouldn’t mean having to endure somebody else’s choice of crap music blasted through a speaker at full blast.
“Rail passengers need to see enforcement and swift justice for those who make people’s lives a misery, and bus passengers need the same laws to protect them against this nuisance.
“Our proposals and amendments will end the two-tier system and be an important step in making sure every journey is free from the blight of anti-social noise
“Only Conservatives will make sure passengers get the quiet, comfortable journeys they deserve.”
The Liberal Democrats have already pushed for similar action.
Sir Ed Davey’s party revealed in April that they would change the law to introduce £1,000 fines for those playing music or videos out loud on public transport, and pledged to take on “headphone dodgers”.
This new Conservative policy may seem familiar to some – especially to Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey.
Pic: PA
Speaking about the Tory announcement on Monday, Neil O’Brien, the shadow minister for policy renewal, said: “People playing music or TikTok out loud on public transport is not just annoying but can create an atmosphere of intimidation, with passengers worried about what will happen if they intervene.
“We need to create a new national norm, as part of creating a more orderly environment and taking back our streets and public places.”
The government has previously said that there are already “strict rules” in place, to prevent anti-social behaviour on public transport, which already include fines of up to £1,000.
